Emergency mobile device power source

ABSTRACT

In various aspects, a portable electronic device includes electrical components supported by a housing, the electrical components including a user interface coupled to a processor and a storage medium including an emergency power storage module coupled to the processor. The portable apparatus further includes one or more power storage devices configured to provide electrical energy to the electrical components, at least one power storage device operably controlled by the emergency power storage module to provide emergency electrical energy to the electronic components for an emergency communication.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/682,459, filed Nov. 20, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No.8,769,321 issued on Jul. 1, 2014; which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/037,327, filed Feb. 28, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No.8,316,251 issued on Nov. 20, 2012; which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 11/833,441, filed Aug. 3, 2007, now U.S.Pat. No. 7,925,909 issued on Apr. 12, 2011; the contents of which arehereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties into thisdisclosure.

BACKGROUND

Millions of portable electronic devices are in everyday use in theUnited States. Globally, the number is even greater. Examples of suchdevices include personal digital assistants (PDAs), laptop computers,mobile phones, two-way radios, global positioning system (GPS)receivers, wireless modems, etc. The foregoing are just a few of thenumerous types of portable electronic devices that many people depend onfor business, industry, and personal matters.

Many of the aforementioned devices rely on batteries to power thedevices. Although many devices can operate for days, weeks, andsometimes even months on a single battery charge, these devices oftenneed their batteries recharged or replaced on a regular interval toavoid losing power, and thus functionality of the device. Unfortunately,users often run out of battery power while using their electronicdevices, sometimes during inopportune times.

Sometimes, a lack of battery capacity is a mere inconvenience to theuser. However, emergencies do arise in which a portable electronicdevice—say, related to GPS locating and/or two-way communication—canmitigate critical circumstances. What's more, just a brief period ofoperation can make all the difference. For example, 40 seconds ofavailable power so as to place an emergency mobile phone call canfavorably alter the outcome of an emergency situation. Society's growingreliance on electronic devices increases the likelihood of inopportunepower failures. Therefore, apparatus and methods for providing usefuloperating energy to portable electronic devices would have appreciableutility.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce general concepts of emergencymobile device power sources, which are further described below in theDetailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify essentialfeatures of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to limit thescope of the claimed subject matter.

In one aspect, a portable apparatus includes a portable electronicdevice with electrical components supported by a housing. The electricalcomponents include a user interface coupled to a processor and a storagemedium including an emergency power storage module coupled to theprocessor. The portable apparatus further includes one or more powerstorage devices configured to provide electrical energy to theelectrical components. At least one power storage device is operablycontrolled by the emergency power storage module to provide emergencyelectrical energy to the electronic components for an emergencycommunication.

In another aspect, a method is provided that includes receiving acommunication request on a portable electronic device, determining thecommunication request category, and rejecting the communication if theportable electronic device is using emergency backup power and thecommunication is not designated as an emergency communication.

In yet another aspect, a method for operating on emergency powerincludes receiving a designation of an emergency contact and determiningif a communication request is associated with an emergency contact. Whenthe communication request is associated with the emergency contact, themethod further includes accepting the communication request by providingpower from an emergency power source. When the communication request isnot associated with the emergency contact, the method may includerejecting the communication request.

Other systems, methods, and/or computer program products according toembodiments will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art uponreview of the following drawings and detailed description. It isintended that all such additional systems, methods, and/or computerprogram products be included within this description, be within thescope of the present disclosure, and be protected by the accompanyingclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanyingfigures. The same reference numbers in different figures indicatesimilar or identical items.

FIG. 1 is a schematic depicting illustrative portable electronic deviceswith an emergency mobile device power source.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing an illustrative portable electronicdevice with a partitioned battery.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram depicting an illustrative technique formanaging communications based on a capacity of a power source.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram depicting an illustrative process for creatingan emergency contact to access an emergency power source.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Overview

The present disclosure illustrates apparatus and methods providing anemergency mobile device power source. Providing the emergency powersource for mobile devices may allow users to more fully use theirelectronic device's battery capacity without concern for reserving powercapacity for an emergency situation. For example, a user may exhausttheir mobile phone battery and no longer be able to make or receiveregular phone calls. However, an emergency power source may enable theuser to complete a call or other communication categorized as anemergency, such as a 911 call, despite the unavailability of primarybattery power. In some instances, the electronic devices may includereserve capacity for emergency communications, while in other instanceselectronic devices may reserve battery power using software controlmodules to manage reserve battery power. Still other instances may allowusers to designate emergency contacts in addition to communicationsrecognized as emergency communications. FIGS. 1-4 and the followingssections of the present disclosure describe apparatus and methodsproviding an emergency mobile device power source in further detail.

Illustrative Portable Electronic Devices

FIG. 1 is a schematic depicting portable electronic devices with anemergency mobile device power source. An environment 100 includes aportable electronic device (PED) 102. The PED 102 may be any electronicdevice using batteries to provide at least a portion of the electronicoperation. In some cases, the batteries may be a primary power sourcewhile in other cases batteries may provide a secondary or reserve powersource.

The PED 102 may include a variety of possible portable electronicdevices 102(1), . . . , 102(N). For example, the PED 102 may be aportable computer 102(1) (e.g., laptop, palmtop, etc.), a wireless phone102(2) (e.g., mobile phones, cordless phones, etc.), a globalpositioning system (GPS) receiver 102(3), a personal data assistant(PDA) 102(4), a radio 102(5) (e.g., world band radio), and two-way radio102(N) (e.g., “walkietalkie”). In further aspects, it is contemplatedthat the PED 102 may include other digital communication devices thatrely in part on battery power for operation.

The PED 102 further includes a number of electrical components 104.These electrical components 104 may include one or more processors 106that are coupled to instances of a user interface (UI) 108. The UI 108represents any devices and related drivers that enable the PED 102 toreceive input from a user or other system, and to provide output to theuser or other system. Thus, to receive inputs, the UI 108 may includekeyboards or keypads, mouse devices, touch screens, microphones, speechrecognition packages, imaging systems, or the like. Similarly, toprovide outputs, the UI 108 may include speakers, display screens,printing mechanisms, or the like.

The electrical components 104 may include one or more instances of acomputer-readable storage medium 110 that are addressable by theprocessor 106. As such, the processor 106 may read data or executableinstructions from, or store data to, the storage medium 110. The storagemedium 110 may contain an emergency power storage module 112, which maybe implemented as one or more software modules that, when loaded intothe processor 106 and executed, cause the PED 102 to perform any of thefunctions described herein, such as to provide an emergency mobiledevice power source in accordance with embodiments of the presentdisclosure. Additionally, the storage medium 110 may containimplementations of any of the various software modules described herein.

The electrical components 104 may further be coupled to one or morepower storage devices 114 that provide electrical energy for at leastpart of the operation of the electrical components. The power storagedevices 114 may include a lithium-ion battery, a Nickel-cadmium battery,Nickel metal hydride battery, Silver Zinc battery, or any other type ofrechargeable or non-rechargeable power source configured to provideelectrical energy to the electrical components 104. In some aspects, theelectrical components 104 may be coupled to a plurality of power storagedevices 114 arranged in series, however other configurations arecontemplated. The power storage device 114 may include circuitry, suchas voltage monitoring circuitry often included in “smart” batteries,among other internal power storage device controls and circuitry.

In some instances, the emergency power storage module 112 may beconfigured to monitor and allocate power for consumption by theelectrical components 104. For example, the powered electricalcomponents 104 enable the operation of the PED 102, such as thefunctionality of a mobile phone 102(2) to place a telephone call over awireless network communication system. The emergency power storagemodule 112 may reserve, or otherwise allocate, a portion of the capacityof the power storage device 114 for emergency communications oroperation of the PED 102.

In an illustrative operation, the emergency power storage module 112 maymonitor the capacity of the power storage device 114 while the PED 102is in operation. When the power storage device capacity drops below athreshold level, the emergency power storage module 112 may restrictoperation of the PED 102 to emergency operations. For example, theemergency operation may include placing an emergency 911 telephone call.In such an instance, a caller may activate a telephone call when “911”is entered into the user interface 108 (via a keyboard or other inputdevice). The emergency power source module 112 may then recognize thecall as being classified as an emergency, and thus allocate at least aportion of the remaining power storage device 114 capacity to theelectrical components 104 to complete the call. Conversely, if thecaller tries to place a telephone call to a destination that is notidentified as an emergency contact, the emergency power source module112 may not allocate remaining power storage device's capacity to theelectrical components 104. Further, in such an instance, the userinterface 108 may display a message to the caller such as “battery powerlow and limited to emergency communications,” among other messagesindicating an activation of an emergency power mode.

As discussed above, the PED 102 may include additional power storagedevices 114. In one implementation, the PED 102 includes two powerstorage devices 114. A first power storage device 114(1) may provideprimary electrical power to the electrical components 104 while a backupemergency power storage device 114(M) is reserved for emergencyoperation of the PED 102. The emergency power source module 112 may beconfigured to activate the backup power storage device 114(M) when theprimary power storage device's capacity has been exhausted, orsubstantially exhausted, and the PED 102 is operated in an emergencysituation. For example, the emergency power source module 112 mayallocate power from the backup power storage device 114(M) to monitorincoming calls, but may only allow the PED 102 to receive or placecommunications that are designated as emergency communications. Forexample, the emergency power source module 112 in the radio 102(5) maymonitor a radio frequency via a standby mode, but only activate audiocomponents to emit emergency weather reports while otherwisedeactivating audio components.

The emergency mobile device power source may enable a longer standbystatus of the PED 102, or other operational status, while enabling theuser to complete emergency communications. In some instances, the usermay desire to override the emergency power source module 112 and use thePED 102 to receive a non-emergency communication despite limited powerstorage device 114 capacity, such as when the primary power storagedevice 114(1) is substantially exhausted and the PED is operating onelectrical energy from the emergency backup power storage device 114(M).

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing an illustrative portable electronicdevice 102 with a partitioned power storage device. The PED 102 mayinclude a housing 202 and a power storage device 204 configured with apartition of the power storage device's power capacity. The powerstorage device 204 includes one or more connection terminals 206,including a positive and negative lead, for powering the electricalcomponents 104 with electrical energy from the power storage device 204.

The power storage device 204 includes a number of elements 208 forretaining the power storage device capacity. The elements 208 may beconfigured to provide power to the electrical components 104 using someelements 208, while other elements do not provide power and thus remainin a charged state. For example, a first set of elements 210 may provideprimary capacity to the electrical components 104 while a second set ofelements 212 may provide emergency backup capacity to the electricalcomponents 104. The elements 208 may further include a partition 214 forseparating the first set of elements 210 and second set of elements 212.In some instances, the partition 214 may be a physical partition, suchas to physically isolate the first and second set of elements. In suchan instance, the partition may operate analogous to a vehicle with aseparate reserve fuel tank where a driver may select the reserve tank inemergency situations such as when he runs out of gas in the primary gastank while driving on a remote highway.

Alternatively, the partition 214 may be a virtual partition, analogousto a partition used for dividing a computer hard drive for use bydifferent resources. In such an instance, the partition may enabledesignation of elements on either side of the partition 214, thusseparating the first set of elements 210 from and the second set ofelements 212.

To further control the partition 214, the power storage device mayinclude electronic circuitry 216. The electronic circuitry 216 mayinclude the one or more connection terminals 206. In some instances, theelectronic circuitry 216 may include two connection terminals 206, wherea first terminal is in connection with the first set of elements 210 anda second terminal is in connection with the second set of elements. Theemergency power source module 112 may be operably coupled to theelectronic circuitry 216 to controllably allocate electrical energy fromthe power storage device between the first and second terminal, and thusthe first set of elements 210 for primary power and the second set ofelements 212 for emergency backup power.

In some instances, the electronic circuitry 216 may enablerepartitioning of the partition 214. For example, the electroniccircuitry 216 may include a number of switches which may be configuredto selectively group the elements 208 to create the first and second setof elements 210, 212.

Illustrative Operation

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram depicting an illustrative process 300 formanaging communications based on a capacity of a power source. Theprocess includes a block 302 for receiving a communication request bythe PED 102. For clarity, receiving a communication request may includethe receipt of a communication request from an external transmitter(e.g., a call from another party) or the receipt of a communicationrequest from the user on the PED (e.g., the user entering a telephonenumber and then placing the call from the PED).

At a block 304, the process 300 determines the communication type. Forexample, the communication is categorized as an emergency communicationor a nonemergency communication. In other instances, additionalcategorizations may enable a user to allocate a reserve power source forother operations. The power storage device power capacity may bedetermined at a block 306. For example, the emergency power sourcemodule 112 may monitor the power storage device's capacity of theprimary power storage device 114(1) to determine if the power storagedevice power capacity is substantially exhausted.

The process 300 continues at a decision block 308 where a determinationis made whether the power storage device's power is low (i.e.,substantially exhausted). If the power storage device's power is notlow, then the process 300 continues to a block 310 and the communicationis accepted. In other words, the communication may be received by thePED 102 from an external device, such as via a wireless communicationnetwork. Alternatively, the block 310 may initiate a communication fromthe PED 102 to another electronic device in a remote location. If thepower storage device's power is low, the process 300 continues to adecision block 312.

At the decision block 312, a determination is made whether thecommunication is recognized as an emergency communication. If thecommunication is recognized as an emergency communication, the process300 advances to block 310, otherwise the process continues to a decisionblock 314. At the decision block 314, the process 300 determines whetheran override blocking function is initiated to allow receipt of thecommunication. For example, the override blocking function may includecomputer code stored in the storage medium 110 and accessed by theemergency power source module 112 to determine whether to accept thecommunication request and thus enable the electrical components 104 toaccess power from the emergency backup power storage device 114(M). Ifoverride blocking is not selected, then the process 300 may advance to ablock 316 where the communication is rejected. Alternatively, theprocess advances to a decision block 318.

A determination is conducted whether the override should be recorded inmemory at the decision block 318. For example, the override may berecorded in the storage medium as a “learned emergency contact.Therefore, if the same communication request is received by the PED 102,at the decision block 312, the communication may be recognized as anemergency contact and thus the communication may be accepted at theblock 310. If the decision includes storing the override, the process300 may record the communication as an emergency at a block 320.Regardless of the decision at the decision block 318, the communicationis ultimately accepted at the block 310.

Generally speaking, the process 300 is illustrative of a processenabling detection and categorization of communications as emergencycontacts, thus allocating an emergency power source to complete anemergency communication when primary power is substantially exhausted.This process may allow a user to complete a call when they may otherwisebe unable to use the portable electronic device 102 because its powersource may have been depleted by non-emergency calls. As describedbelow, emergency contacts may be created using other techniques.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram depicting an illustrative process 400 forcreating an emergency contact to access an emergency power source. Theprocess 400 includes initiating an emergency entry at a block 402. Forexample, the user interface 108 may enable a user to enter an emergencycontact creation screen, perhaps via a menu interface implemented on amobile telephone 102(2). At a block 404, the emergency contactidentifier is entered. The emergency contact identifier may be atelephone number, a contact name associated with communications, orother criteria allowing a user to selectively identify a contact orentity relating to communications. In some instances, the process 400may include a list of predetermined contacts which the user may browseand selectively activate or otherwise designate as an emergency contact.

The process further includes a block 406 enabling entry of criteria foremergency contacts. The block 406 includes sub-blocks 406(1)-(4) listingeither exclusive or non-exclusive criteria for designating emergencycontacts. The sub-block 406(1) may allow the user to enter one or moretime periods for the emergency contact selected at the block 404. Forexample, the user may desire to designate a call from his wife between10:00 pm and 8:00 am, perhaps due to an irregularity in receiving callsduring this time period from the particular contact. It is alsocontemplated that the user may desire to generally categorizecommunications during a particular time period as emergencycommunications via the sub-block 406(1), such as by designating allcalls between 12:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. as emergency calls.

At the sub-block 406(2) the user may designate one or more locationcodes for classification as an emergency communication. In someinstances, GPS location data may be used to determine when a contact isdesignated as an emergency contact. For example, the user may designatea call from a particular GPS coordinate range as being classified asemergency communications. At the sub-block 406(3), when using a mobiletelephone, the user may select all communications from a particular areacode to be classified as emergency contacts.

Finally, at the sub-block 406(4) includes designating contacts based onthe device type. In some instances the user may select devices based onthe PED 102 type, such as those listed in 102(1)-(N). In one instance,the user may select communications received from the user's networkprovider as emergency contacts. In another example, a communication froma satellite based telephone may be designated as an emergency contact,and thus enable the user to automatically override the decision block312 in FIG. 3 to accept the communication despite the substantialexhaustion of power from the primary power storage device on the user'sPED 102.

In some instances, the classification may be dynamically based on thecriteria entered at the block 404. For example, a communication may becategorized as an emergency contact during a first situation (e.g., timeperiod) and may not be designated as an emergency contact during asecond situation. The process 400 may save the emergency contact, ascreated via the blocks 402-406, such as by storing the emergency contactinformation in the storage medium 110 as illustrated in FIG. 1.

CONCLUSION

Although exemplary embodiments have been described in language specificto structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to beunderstood that the embodiments are not necessarily limited to thespecific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features andacts are disclosed as exemplary forms of implementing the embodiments.

What is claimed is:
 1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storinginstructions that, when executed by a processor of a portable electronicdevice, cause the processor to perform operations comprising: providing,to a user of the portable electronic device, a list of contacts;receiving a selection of a contact from the list of contacts todesignate as an emergency contact identifier; receiving a time periodassociated with the emergency contact identifier; determining that acapacity of a primary power source of the portable electronic devicedrops below a threshold level; determining that an incomingcommunication request from an external transmitter is associated withthe emergency contact identifier; determining if the incomingcommunication request associated with the emergency contact identifieris received during the time period; if the incoming communicationrequest associated with the emergency contact identifier is receivedduring the time period, then utilizing a secondary power source of theportable electronic device to provide power to the portable electronicdevice for communicating with the external transmitter; and if theincoming communication request associated with the emergency contactidentifier is not received during the time period, then rejecting theincoming communication request.
 2. The non-transitory computer-readablemedium of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise prior torejecting the incoming communication request if the incomingcommunication request associated with the emergency contact identifieris not received during the time period, determining whether an overrideblocking function is initiated.
 3. The non-transitory computer-readablemedium of claim 2, wherein the operations further comprise in responseto determining that the override blocking function is initiated,allowing communication with the external transmitter.
 4. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the incomingcommunication request is associated with a telephone call.
 5. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the incomingcommunication request associated with the emergency contact identifierreceived during the time period is considered an emergency communicationand wherein the incoming communication request associated with theemergency contact identifier not received during the time period isconsidered a non-emergency communication.
 6. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the operations furthercomprise displaying a message indicating an activation of an emergencypower mode during which the secondary power source provides power forcommunications determined to be emergency communications.
 7. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein thesecondary power source is a virtual partition of the primary powersource.
 8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1,wherein the primary power source further includes a voltage monitoringcircuit.
 9. A method, comprising: providing, by a portable electronicdevice comprising a processor to a user of the portable electronicdevice, a list of contacts; receiving, by the portable electronicdevice, a selection of a contact from the list of contacts to designateas an emergency contact identifier; receiving, by the portableelectronic device, a time period associated with the emergency contactidentifier; determining, by the portable electronic device, that acapacity of a primary power source of the portable electronic devicedrops below a threshold level; determining, by the portable electronicdevice, that an incoming communication request from an externaltransmitter is associated with the emergency contact identifier;determining, by the portable electronic device, if the incomingcommunication request associated with the emergency contact identifieris received during the time period; if the incoming communicationrequest associated with the emergency contact identifier is receivedduring the time period, then utilizing, by the portable electronicdevice, a secondary power source of the portable electronic device toprovide power to the portable electronic device for communicating withthe external transmitter; and if the incoming communication requestassociated with the emergency contact identifier is not received duringthe time period, then rejecting, by the portable electronic device, theincoming communication request.
 10. The method of claim 9, furthercomprising displaying a prompt for an input of the emergency contactidentifier.
 11. The method of claim 9, further comprising prior torejecting the incoming communication request if the incomingcommunication request associated with the emergency contact identifieris not received during the time period, determining whether an overrideblocking function is initiated.
 12. The method of claim 11, furthercomprising in response to determining that the override blockingfunction is initiated, allowing communication with the externaltransmitter.
 13. The method of claim 9, wherein the secondary powersource is a virtual partition of the primary power source.
 14. A device,comprising: a processor; and a memory that stores instructions that,when executed by the processor, cause the processor to performoperations comprising providing, to a user of the device, a list ofcontacts, receiving a selection of a contact from the list of contactsto designate as an emergency contact identifier, receiving a time periodassociated with the emergency contact identifier, determining that acapacity of a primary power source of the device drops below a thresholdlevel, determining that an incoming communication request from anexternal transmitter is associated with the emergency contactidentifier, determining if the incoming communication request associatedwith the emergency contact identifier is received during the timeperiod, if the incoming communication request associated with theemergency contact identifier is received during the time period, thenutilizing a secondary power source of the device to provide power to thedevice for communicating with the external transmitter, and if theincoming communication request associated with the emergency contactidentifier is not received during the time period, then rejecting theincoming communication request.
 15. The device of claim 14, wherein thesecondary power source is a partition of the primary power source. 16.The device of claim 14, wherein the primary power source furtherincludes a voltage monitoring circuit.
 17. The device of claim 16,wherein the voltage monitoring circuit includes a first connectionterminal for a first set of elements and a second connection terminalfor a second set of elements, the second set of elements defining apartition.
 18. The device of claim 17, wherein the operations furthercomprise selectively designating the partition between the first set ofelements and the second set of elements.
 19. The device of claim 18,wherein selectively designating the partition comprises allocatingelectrical energy to the first set of elements and the second set ofelements.
 20. The device of claim 14, wherein the operations furthercomprise: prior to rejecting the incoming communication request if theincoming communication request associated with the emergency contactidentifier is not received during the time period, determining whetheran override blocking function is initiated; and in response todetermining that the override blocking function is initiated, allowingcommunication with the external transmitter.